Death threats to journalists in Jaffna, a 'defence matter' – NP Governor

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 December 2009, 02:49 GMT]The Governor of Northern Province, Major Gen. G. A. Chandrasiri, said that the issue of death threats being issued to journalists at a time when the government claims that normalcy reigns in Jaffna is a matter of defence and hence out of his area of power, in response to questions raised by journalists, in a special press meet held by the governor Monday in Jaffna Secretariat.

The question was raised when the governor said that even foreign banks have come forward to open branches in Jaffna as law and order prevail in Jaffna and normalcy of life has been restored.

The journalists pointed out to the recent incident where editors of the three leading Tamil dailies and their journalists were issued death threats for not publishing news in support of the government.

When the governor informed that a Star Hotel is to be built in Chaaddi in Kaarainakar and that facilities in Casurina Beach in Kaarinakar have been modernized to accommodate nearly 500 persons the journalists asked as to why Gnanam’s Hotel and Subhas Hotel in Jaffna town are being still occupied by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) for the last 14 years, if normalcy is restored in Jaffna.

The Governor avoided answering the question.

The special press meet was held by the governor to explain the activities taken by the government to resettle Vanni IDPs.